Method of filling the interstices between the units of alpha pavement or floor



Oct. 27, 1925.

B. s. M CQNNELL BETWEEN THE UNITS OF A PAVEMENT 0R FLOOR METHOD OF FILLING THE INTERSTICEZ Filed Oct. 4. 1921 Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT ol-rloa.

BERTRAM S. MOCONNELL, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO PETER C.

REILLY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. I

METHOD OF FILLING THE INTEBSTICES BETWEEN THE UNITS O! A PAVE-' KENT OR FLOOR.

Application filed October 4, 1921. Serial No. 505,264.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERTRAM S. MoCoN- NELL, a citizen of the United States, res ding at Indianapolis, in the county of Marlon and State of Indiana, have invented certainnew and useful Methods of Filling the Interstices Between the Units of a Pavement or Floor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of filling the interstices between the umts of a pavement or floor composed either of br ck, asphalt, or wooden blocks, the method being such as to produce a solidified filler as well as to form a bondbetween the component elements of the pavement or floor. The materials employed are such that they may be readily placed in the joints and thereafter so treated as to produce a substantially coherent mass which also adheres to the contiguous faces of the blocks, thereby formmg a perfect bond between the various elements, thus producing in effect a continuous surface. Various methods and materials are at present employed in filling the spaces or interstices, but such methods are more or less wasteful and are not effective as a filler and a bond.

Due to the narrow interstices or narrow openings it is oftentimes difiicult, in the present methods, to thoroughly fill such openings or interstices. Where liquid bituminous material is employed it is often found that an inadequate amount of such material is present in the interstices and frequently the material will congeal upon the upper marginal portions of the blocks and only a 7 small amount will enter between them. Thus there is produced an inadequate filling and there is likewise present upon the exposed pavement surface material which is harmful to the surface besides being wasteful. Again, if the units are spaced apart to any considerable degree, such material runs down through the interstices and under the units, distorting the surface of the pavement or floor, frequently leaving the interstices unfilled. These objections are present not only with hot bituminous liquid but also with a cold bituminous liquid. When sand, cement, sawdust or othergranular material are used,- separately or m mixture, the ossess but little adheslve qualities to bond tiie various blocks together and they are apt to work down under the blocks, thereby causing the sur face to become uneven.

Two embodiments of the present invention are shown in the annexed drawings where- 1n:

Figure I is a sectional elevation of a port1on of a avement, disclosing wooden blocks having t e interstices between the same filled or closed with the material as hereinafter set forth; and

F 1gure 2, a perspective View showing a similar pavement wherein the body of the pavement is formed by bricks or asphaltic locks.

With the present invention I propose to use asphalt, coal tar, coal tar pitch, petroleum pitch, and other like substances which may be reduced by distillation to a point where the material becomes dry, and, to a certain extent, brittle, without losing its inherent plasticity and adhesive properties. In this condition such materials can be r duced to powdered form by crushing or granulating and such form will be retained until exposed to an excessive heat or to the action of some suitable solvent. The material thus powdered may be swept into the interstices until all the interstices are completely filled with it, the material being either by a spray or brush, of a solvent,"

such as solvent naphtha, naphthalene, phenanthrene, creosote oil, or, any other suitable substance, either hot or cold, as

required, according to the nature of the solvent employed. Such solvent material transforms the granular or powdered mass into a homogeneous body and thoroughly seals and fills the interstices. At the same time, owing to the coherent nature of the material employed, a bond is formed thereby with the adjacent faces of the blocks.

In Figure 1, I have shown a series of wooden blocks denoted by 1 and the filling material denoted by 2. In Figure 2, the

body which may be made of asphaltic blocks and the granular solvent or the carrier impregnated with the solvent, is then worked into the interstices until they are entirely filled, which may be readily done w1th a broom or a squeegee. It is essential that the mixture be swept immediately into place before any fusing action obtains between the filler and the solvent. The surface of the pavement is then preferably flushed with creosote oil which is to be quickly forced into the interstices by a rubber squeegee. Such material will be absorbed by the filler and the squeegee Wlll clean 0c the surface entirely. If the openings or interstices are large it may be necessary to repeat the operation after the filler has settled. The filler, however, is of such a nature that the operation above set forth can be easily repeated until all the voids are entirely filled. Complete fusing of the filler obtains within about twenty-four hours.

Again, instead of using a liquid solvent or the carrier for the solvent, as just spec1- fied, powdered bitumen may be mixed with powdered or crystal naphthalene or phenanthrene, or other granular solvent, prior to its being swept into the interstices, after which it will be subjected to the application of heat, as by the use of a blow torch or a jet of live steam, which will serve to soften the powdered plastic'and cause it to pass into a cohesive and bonding relation with the blocks, at the same time filling in the interstices or openings, where ,it will remam.

The invention is susceptible of wide application and has been found highly efficient and effective in actual use.

The use of these high point boiling matetween continguous paving or flooring elements, which consists in supplying said joints with a comminuted hydrocarbon material normally non-fluent under atmospheric temperatures, and temporarily softening the same when in situ to cause such material to coalesce and to bond the contiguous faces of the elements aforesaid.

3. That method of filling the joints between contiguous paving or flooring ele ments, which consists in supplying said joints with a hydrocarbon material normally non-fluent under atmospheric temperatures, and temporarily softening the same when in situ by a solvent agent whereby-the material is caused to coalesce and to bond thedcontiguous faces of the elements aforesa1 4. That method of filling the joints between contiguous paving or flooring ele ments which consists in supplying said joints with a normally hard material produced from hydrocarbon, said material being normally non-fluent at atmospheric temperatures, and thereafter temporarily softening the same when in situ whereby the material is caused to coalesce and to form a bond with the contiguous faces of the elements aforesaid.

5. That method of filling the joints between contiguous paving or flooring elements which consists in supplying such joints witha mass containing a normally non-fluent material produced from a hydro carbon, and thereafter temporarily softening the same when in situ whereby the elements are bonded and the mass becomes substantially solid throughout.

6. That method of filling the joints between contiguous paving or flooring elements, which consists in supplying such joints with a mass of powdered hydrocarbon of high boiling point, and thereafter causing said powder to coalesce into a Substantially solid body.

7. That method of filling the joints between contiguous paving or flooring elements, which consists in supplying said joints with a normally hard material produced from hydrocarbon, said material being normally non-fluent at atmospheric temperatures, and introducing into the joints with such material a carrier soaked with a solving substance for such material.

8. That method of filling the joints between contiguous paving or flooring elements, which consists in supplying said joints with a normally hard material'pro duced from hydrocarbon, said material being normally non-fluent at atmospheric teming non-fluent at atmospheric temperatures, 1 peratures, and likewise introducing into said and likewise introducing into the joints a joints a body of sawdust saturated with a body of sawdust saturated with a solvent solvent for such hydrocarbon material. for such hydrocarbon material, and finally 9. That method of filling the joints beflushing the joints thus filled with creosote tween contiguous paving or flooring eleoil. I ments, which consists in supplying said In testimony whereof I have signed my ioints with a normally hard material proname to this specification.

duced from hydrocarbon, said material be- BERTRAM. S. MGCONNELL. 

